Centre wants to impose restrictions on public gathering at festivals

March 25, 2021 Hot from the Oven Valli Sarvani No comments

Amid the upsurge of COVID-19 cases across the country, the Centre urged all state governments and union territories to impose restrictions on public gatherings at upcoming festivals.

Starting from Holi on March 29, people from various religions will celebrate several festivals like Navratri, Shab-e-Barat, Easter etc. In the coming months. In this context, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare advised all states and UTs to consider imposing restrictions on public gatherings at these festivals.

Union Health Additional Secretary Arti Ahuja has written a letter to states and UTs in this regard. She emphasized the need to adhere to the guidelines of COVID-19 in crowded places and public gathering to control its transmission.

Due to a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases in the national capital, the Delhi government banned all public celebrations. Public gatherings will also not be allowed in parks, markets, religious places, and public grounds.

Delhi government also says that the violators of these rules shall be punished as per the law.

Besides, Delhi and Chandigarh imposed a ban on public observation of festivals like Holi and Shab-e-Barat. Mumbai also banned Holi celebrations in public places. Haryana is the latest state to join them by imposing restrictions on celebrating Holi in public places.

The decision of the Health Ministry came after a sharp spike in COVID-19 cases in various states across the country. As per the data of the Union Health Ministry, the COVID-19 cases have been increasing for the last two weeks. In the last 24 hours alone, 47,262 COVID-19 cases and 275 deaths were reported. In this context, there is a need to control the transmission and break the chain.

Last year also, due to the incidence of COVID-19 and lockdown in the country, people did not celebrate festivals publicly.

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